GOLD STANDARD: Princeton High boys’ lacrosse goalie Kenan Glasgold makes a save against Hopewell Valley last week in the Mercer County Tournament semifinals. Junior Glasgold made nine saves in the May 13 contest as fourth-seeded PHS won 7-3 over the top-seeded Bulldogs. Two days later, Glasgold had five saves as PHS edged second-seeded Allentown 11-10 in overtime to win its second straight MCT title. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Knowing that he had a chance to be the starting goalie this spring for the Princeton High boys’ lacrosse team Kenan Glasgold put his nose to the grindstone over the offseason.

“I just worked a lot privately with guys, getting guys to shoot on me,” said junior Glasgold.

“I also worked with Brad Conlon, the Princeton goalie coach, over the fall, it was one-on-one training.”

While Glasgold’s diligence paid off as he earned the starting role this spring, it took him a while to develop a comfort level in the crease.

“I was really nervous,” said Glasgold. “My teammates were giving me confidence and I was getting better every game. Our first WW/P-S game (a 10-2 win on March 29) was a good game for me.”

Last week, Glasgold showed why he has earned the confidence of his teammates, making nine saves as fourth-seeded PHS stifled top-seeded Hopewell Valley 7-3 in the Mercer County Tournament semifinals.

In avenging a 10-9 regular season defeat to the Bulldogs, Glasgold spearheaded a stingy PHS defense that held HoVal scoreless in the second half, seizing control of the May 13 contest that was deadlocked 3-3 at halftime.

Glasgold credited the work of the Little Tiger defenders in reflecting on the team’s win.

“That is the best defense I have ever seen, I don’t know what we would have done without them,” said Glasgold, citing the play of Colin Buckley, Jackson Andres, and Joe Hawes.

“We gained momentum because they weren’t scoring and then we scored. It was the most beautiful game of lacrosse I have seen us play, better than the win over Christian Brothers (a 14-5 win on April 25).”

The Little Tigers were determined to play better than they had in their first meeting with HoVal.

“We just had to add more depth, and get more people in,” said Glasgold, who came up with some big stops on Thursday as PHS edged second-seeded Allentown 11-10 in overtime to win its second straight MCT crown. “We also had to want it more; it is all about wanting it.”

PHS head coach Peter Stanton likes what Glasgold had added to the team this spring.

“Kenan has been playing this game as a goalie for less than two seasons; he shouldn’t be that good,” said Stanton. “He worked hard with coach Conlon; they studied tapes.”

In the win over HoVal, Glasgold was particularly good on stopping point blank shots.

“That’s what we have worked on a lot, all you can do there is buy time,” explained Stanton.

“We have said to Kenan it is not your responsibility to prevent every goal. We want you to save the ones you should make and if you can buy a little time, it works to your favor and the shooter’s disadvantage. Sometimes the goalie will rush but he has learned how to be patient.”

Glasgold, for his part, has also learned to keep a clear head when he is under the gun.

“I don’t really know, I just go blank,” said Glasgold, in discussing his flair for making dramatic saves. “There is nothing really to think about.”

And with Glasgold emerging as a star goalie, PHS doesn’t have to think twice about its last line of defense.